Woman in California rampage had become more devoutSAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — A change came over Tashfeen Malik two or three years ago. She started dressing more conservatively, wearing a scarf that covered nearly all her face, and became more devout in her Muslim faith, according to some who knew her in Pakistan. But her path from there to the bloody events of this past week — when she and her husband slaughtered 14 people in a commando-style shooting rampage — remains a mystery, with FBI offic...

The Latest: Britain claims 'real blow' against IS LONDON — The latest developments regarding the fight against the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq: All times local: 9:50 a.m. Britain's defense secretary says British Tornados struck at oil fields that help finance the activities of the Islamic State group — the first strikes to follow after a vote in Parliament authorizing military action in Syria. Defense Secretary Michael Fallon told the BBC that the Omar fields in eastern Syria were t...

For some, the older the smartphone, the betterNEW YORK — Between splashy launches, lavish new-phone offers (get a free HDTV on activation!) and frequent software updates that slow down your old handset, it sometimes feels like the entire technology industry is pushing you to buy the latest smartphone. Yet some holdouts resist. Take Zak Sommerfield, 35, a software analyst in New York, who has hung onto his LG Delight flip phone for five years, even though his friends and co-workers make fu...

Putin levies sanctions on Turkey for downing jetANKARA, Turkey — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday called for sanctions against Turkey, following the downing this week by Turkey of a Russian warplane. The decree published on the Kremlin’s website Saturday came hours after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had voiced regret over the incident, saying his country was “truly saddened” by the event and wished it hadn’t occurred. It includes a ban on some goods and forbids extensi...

Cameron: Britain must attack IS in Syria to deny group safe havenLONDON — British Prime Minister David Cameron tried to persuade reluctant lawmakers to back airstrikes on the Islamic State group in Syria, saying Thursday that the Paris attacks have given the fight new urgency and Britain owes it to key allies to act. Cameron told the House of Commons that President Barack Obama and French President Francois Hollande had urged Britain to join the military campaign in Syria. “These are our closest allies and ...

Mutated mosquitoesWASHINGTON — California researchers hatched some malaria-resistant mosquitoes and then gave evolution a shove — using a groundbreaking technology to ensure the insects pass on that protective gene as they reproduce, with implications far beyond the promise of fighting malaria. The experiment reported Monday involves what’s called a “gene drive,” a technique that, if it pans out, promises to alter the genetics of populations of insects and cert...

Pope says political interests must not derail climate talksNAIROBI, Kenya — Pope Francis warned Thursday that it would be “catastrophic” for world leaders to let special interest groups get in the way of a global agreement to curb fossil fuel emissions as he brought his environmental message to the heart of Africa on the eve of crucial climate change talks in Paris. Francis issued the pointed warning in a speech to the U.N.’s regional office here after celebrating his first public Mass on the continen...

Endangered white rhino dies at San Diego-area zoo SAN DIEGO — One of only four northern white rhinos believed left in the world died Sunday at San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Nola, a 41-year-old female who has been at the park since 1989, was euthanized after her health took a turn for the worse, a zoo statement said. The geriatric rhino had arthritis and other ailments and was being treated for a bacterial infection linked to an abscess in her hip. Nola had surgery on Nov. 13 to drain the abscess...

Fate of terror mastermind unclear after raidSAINT-DENIS, France — The hunt for the mastermind of last week’s attacks took a bloody turn Wednesday to a Paris suburb where a fierce gunbattle with police left at least two people dead and eight arrested. The fate of the alleged ringleader was unclear, with authorities saying he was not taken alive and they were trying to determine if he died in the raid. Police launched the operation after receiving information from tapped phone calls, surv...

Plan for Olympic village on shaky groundLOS ANGELES — Los Angeles’ proposed Olympic village might need a new address. Less than three months after the city was selected as the U.S. candidate for the 2024 Olympic Games, plans to build a sprawling community for 17,000 athletes near downtown appeared to be in doubt and a search is underway for possible alternatives. The committee steering the city’s bid had proposed a $1 billion development on a rail yard where thousands of athletes wo...

France vows to punish IS for Paris attacks that kill 127 PARIS (AP) — French President Francois Hollande vowed to attack the Islamic State group without mercy as the jihadist group admitted responsibility Saturday for orchestrating the deadliest attacks on France since World War II. He said at least 127 people died Friday night in shootings at Paris cafes, suicide bombings near France's national stadium and a hostage-taking inside a concert hall. Another 200 or so were injured, dozens critically. Ho...

Pope steady despite taxing month of scandalsVATICAN CITY — The Vatican is no stranger to drama, intrigue or scandal. But even by Vatican standards, this has been one hell of a month. Ever since Pope Francis returned from his triumphant visit to the United States, nearly every day has brought surreal revelations of bishops behaving badly, cardinals resisting reform and ideological battles over everything from the theology of marriage to the Vatican’s cigarette sales. By Wednesday, the Va...

Beer merger won’t bring rivals togetherLONDON — The world’s two biggest beer makers will join forces to create a company that produces almost a third of the world’s beer. But in the U.S., the deal will not bring arch rivals Budweiser and Miller under the same roof. Budweiser maker AB InBev announced Wednesday a final agreement to buy SABMiller for $107 billion. To ease concerns the brewing behemoth might get a stranglehold of the U.S. market, SABMiller will sell its 58 percent stak...

U of O enters into partnerships with French universitiesCLARKSVILLE — University of the Ozarks has recently forged academic partnerships with a pair of universities in France. U of O President Richard L. Dunsworth and Director of International Programs Florence Galy Lebois traveled to France in October to sign international agreements with the Paris School of Business (PSB) and ISCPA, a journalism and communications university with campuses in Paris, Lyon and Toulouse, France. Under the agreements,...

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FOR THE COURIER / SubmittedThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Presidents of China, Taiwan meet for 1st time, shake handsSINGAPORE — The leaders of China and Taiwan met Saturday for the first time since the formerly bitter Cold War foes split amid civil war 66 years ago, and though no concrete agreement resulted, both hailed the meeting as a sign of a new stability in relations. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou came together on neutral ground in the Southeast Asian city-state of Singapore, walking toward each other in a hotel bal...

Russian plane’s cockpit recording reveals noise during last secondCAIRO — A noise was heard in the last second of the cockpit voice recording from the Russian plane that crashed last week in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, the head of the joint investigation team said Saturday, bolstering U.S. and British suspicions that the plane was brought down by a bomb. However, Ayman el-Muqadem warned it was too early to say what caused the plane to apparently break up in mid-flight. Analysis of the noise was underway. “All s...

Vatican denies pope is ill after newspaper reportVATICAN CITY — The Vatican on Wednesday denied Pope Francis is in ill health, saying his head is “absolutely perfect” after an Italian newspaper reported he has a small, curable brain tumor. The Japanese brain cancer specialist identified in the report as having made the diagnosis denied having ever examined the pontiff. The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said the report in the National Daily was “completely unfounded and serio...

Polish army checks site of alleged tunnel with Nazi train WARSAW, Poland — The Polish military on Monday deployed chemical, radiation and explosives experts to a site in southwestern Poland where a Nazi train allegedly missing since World War II could be located. Tomasz Smolarz, the governor of Lower Silesia, said the aim of the work in the town of Walbrzych is to exclude any danger for residents. He said the experts will continue their technical checks through Saturday. The military's efforts come a...

Over 700 killed when crowds of pilgrims collideMINA, Saudi Arabia — Two giant waves of Muslim pilgrims collided at an intersection Thursday near a holy site in Saudi Arabia, and more than 700 people were crushed and trampled to death in the worst disaster at the hajj in a quarter-century. “People were climbing over one another just to breathe,” said Abdullah Lotfy of Egypt. “It was like a wave. You go forward and suddenly you go back.” The hajj, which drew 2 million people from over 180 co...

E.U. takes steps to aid refugeesBRUSSELS — European Union leaders, faced with a staggering migration crisis and deep divisions over how to tackle it, managed to agree early Thursday to send 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) to international agencies helping refugees at camps near their home countries. The leaders also agreed to set up “hotspots” by the end of November where EU experts can quickly register and identify people eligible for refugee protection, said European Counci...